Musical traditions

    The Irish love and excel at the arts, especially the literary and musical.
    There is a long history and tradition of music in Ireland which over the centuries has resulted in a special genre all of its own known as Irish music. Featuring such instruments as ullian pipes, drums, fiddle, harp and flute, Irish traditional music has seen a revival in its popularity not only at home in Ireland but also around the world, whether it be in its pure form or through its influence in creating new modern music and sounds.

    Many pubs throughout Ireland will feature live bands as entertainment, or as is the case in many a country town pub, locals will just simply bring their instruments with them and put on impromptu performances with their fellow musicians, making a thrilling and entertaining evening for all. Visiting a pub in Ireland featuring live Irish music is not to be missed and will surely become a highlight of any visit!

    Music is so reveled by the Irish that its own unique and distinctive harp holds a special place in Irish musical life and has come to symbolise the harmony of people and music in Ireland. It’s the earliest musical instrument mentioned in Irish literature and has been used as an official emblem for Ireland since medieval times. Today, the symbol of the harp can be seen on Irish passports and stamps.

    In accompaniment to traditional Irish music is also the unique Irish dancing, said to be the precursor to tap dancing. Irish dancing features both men and women dancing in a style where the feet literally do all the work as the arms and hands are generally kept motionless by the side. The tapping created forms part of the percussion of the performance, which generally is highly rhythmic, energetic and visually dynamic. The chance to experience an Irish dance performance while visiting Ireland is well recommended, and will no doubt provide an interesting and entertaining insight into Irelands unique musical culture.

    The success of Ireland’s musicians, however, is not limited to the traditional, with many world-renowned modern musicians and bands hailing from Ireland. Some of which include U2, The Corrs, Enya, Westlife, The Cranberries and Van Morrison to name just a few.

There are many festivals in Ireland dedicated to celebrating music in all its forms including the Wexford Opera Festival and the Guiness Cork Jazz Festival. For updated details of music events be sure to refer to the Event Calendar.

Alternatively, a list of some of the major concert halls hosting seasonal entertainment events and traditional music heritage include:

Brú Ború Theatre:

Located at the foot of the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary is a celebration of native Irish song, dance, music, theatre and Celtic studies. The cultural village is designed around a village green and is home to the study and celebration of native Irish music, song, dance, theatre and Celtic Studies. It has a folk theatre and the Brú Ború traditional group has performed worldwide including Japan, Spain and China. www.heritageisland.com

The National Concert Hall:

In Dublin hosts weekly performances by the resident RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, as well as a range of performances including classic operas and musicals. www.nch.ie

University Concert Hall (UCH):

In Limerick was the first purpose built concert hall in the country. Since its inception in September 1993, UCH has provided vast and varied entertainment as renowned International and National artists consistently choose to perform here. All forms of music - classical, rock, country and western, tribute, traditional, jazz and blues - together with opera, drama, musicals, dance, ballet and some of the biggest names in comedy can all be enjoyed throughout the year. www.uch.ie

The Lyric Theatre:

In Belfast is situated on a stunning site at the bottom of Ridgeway Street, off the Stranmillis Road. The theatre has spectacular views over the River Lagan and forms part of the blossoming Queen’s Quarter area of Belfast. www.lyrictheatre.co.uk

Grand Opera House:

In Belfast not only provides wonderful entertainment but also conducts tours of the facility. www.goh.co.uk